The screened porch....

This is the entrance to the back door from our screened porch.  I got this Santa at a Holiday Fair here in Greenville about 15 years ago.  Isn't he just adorable?

I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember who gave me this birdhouse but I love it hanging on the porch. 

I shouldn't do this to all of you but..............I finished my Christmas shopping today, all but Mr. Bird Nest's gift.  I have to take my son Rick with me to buy it.  I'll still buy more stocking stuffers in the next few weeks but even those are almost done.

Next week I start the "dreaded Christmas Letter and cards".  The curse of living all over the place is that I usually send about 100 cards. 

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Outside decorating done...

 

Well, I can check one thing off my list...the outside decorating.  Okay, so that string of lights under the door needs an extension cord to look right.  I was getting cold when I got there.

 

Mr. Bird Nest put the wreaths on the windows with new bows and I added the flag.

 

The pineapple posts are decorated with magnolia leaves, pine cones, raffia and ribbon.

You can't really see it but I sprayed the pine cones gold and some of the magnolia leaves.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

The guest bath is decorated...

We have a tree in almost every room and here Santa is relaxing with his reindeer.

Even the hand towels needed a little Christmas spirit.

These are two of my favorite Santas.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Welcome to Christmas at our house...

 

My daughter-in-law Noelle got me this sign a few years ago.  Of course with the bird and bird house I love it.  I just added some garland and a ribbon and I think it's perfect at the front door.

We've added wreaths and electric candle lights to the windows.

 

This project may look familiar since I also did one for Halloween.

 

Guess what this one says?

The lights look great on the topiarys at night.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

The kitchen window...

Christmas is my favorite holiday as you will find out during this entire month.  It's not just the decorations and shopping.  I love watching old Christmas movies like White Christmas and Holiday Inn and the new ones like Elf.  The smells from cookie baking, the candles, the lights.   

 

I put a few things together to create this wreath.  Amazing what you can do with a little wire, garland, ribbon and a few of your favorite things.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Let the decorating begin...

Hi!  It's good to be back blogging.  Mr. Bird Nest was off from work for an entire week and he had me working in the yard, cooking, Christmas shopping, etc.  Thank heaven he goes back to work tomorrow and I can rest up.

Well, this is the beginning of my holiday decorating.  These jars are all new this year and it was fun to find interesting things to use that I had in my pantry and bought to decorate these jars.

The pears came from Wal-Mart and Home Goods.  The rest of the decorations came from Hobby Lobby.

The quilt underneath the jars was one my Mother bought probably twenty-five years ago.

I hope you've enjoyed the beginning of the house tour.  It usually takes me about a week to get all my decorating done, so I'll be keeping you up-to-date each day.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen